Deventer

Deventer is a city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. Deventer is largely situated on the east bank of the river Ijssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. It has a population of just under 100,000.

Deventer was probably founded around 768 by the English missionary Lebuinus, who built a wooden church on the right bank of the river IJssel. This was not the first human settlement at the location; from the Bronze Age to about 400 AD, there was a settlement at Colmschate, 4 km east of the city centre. Remains of this settlement were excavated between 1981 and 2006.

The city hosts the offices of editor and publisher Wolters-Kluwer, a major player in international scientific and legal publishing. The Deventer honey cake (Bussink Deventer Koek), produced in Deventer for over 500 years, is still manufactured locally and sold all over the Netherlands and beyond.

The city hosts three events of national and even international fame: In the first week-end of July, the city centre is the scene of the spectacular open air festival "Deventer op stelten" (Deventer on Stilts). Actors and artists give free performances in the streets and on the Brink square. All actors must use stilts during their acts. In August, Deventer is home to Europe's largest book fair, attracting some 125,000 visitors. The Dickens Festival in December sees some of the oldest streets and alleys in the city dressed up in the style of the Victorian era, as per Dickens' writings.